F. No.

WD/IC-21/2/2022-WD/IC (e-100492)
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Government of India
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Ministry of Women & Child Development

Guidelines for "Nari Shakti Puraskars" - National Award for Women

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on 8th March. The Ministry
of Women & Child Development celebrates this day to acknowledge the achievements
of women for the nation and recognize their contributions to the society.

Therefore, it has been decided by the Ministry to confer 'Nari Shakti

Puraskars' every year to individuals in recognition of their service towards the cause
of women empowerment, especially vulnerable and marginalized women.

2. Objectives

2.1 In the past few years, there have been concerted efforts by the Government to
recognize and encourage women to participate in all spheres and issues related to
women have gained utmost importance and focused attention. "Nari Shakti
Puraskars" shall showcase the Government's commitment towards women with the
aim of strengthening their position in the society.

2.2 Nari Shakti Puraskar will also provide an opportunity to Young

Indians to understand the contribution of women in building of society and the
nation.

2.3 The awards will inspire the citizens to follow the league of awardees.

3. Description

3.1 The recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskars shall be declared every year by 20th
February and awards will be conferred on 8th March on the occasion of Internafional
Women's Day (IWD).

3.2 The maximum number of awards would be 15. However, any relaxation to this
maximum number may be permitted at the discretion of the selection committee. The
Award in each category shall carry a certificate and a cash amount of rupees Two lakh
per awardee.

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4. Eligibility Criteria for Nomination

4.1 The awards are open to individuals only.

4.2 The applicants must be at least 25 years of age on 1st July of the award year ( e.g.
for the year 2021 awards to be distributed on 08.03.2022, the age should be as on
01.07.2021 and so on).

4.3 The applicant should not be a recipient of the same award earlier (including
Stree Shakti Puraskars as were awarded by the Ministry earlier).

4.4 The Nari Shakti Puruskar may be awarded for outstanding work, preferably in
exceptional circumstances, to individuals in the areas of: economic and social
empowerment of women or pertaining to this theme or incidental thereto.

The Nari Shakti Puruskar may be awarded to individuals who encouraged

women to participate in decision making roles; encouraged women's skill
development in traditional and non-traditional sectors; facilitated basic amenities for
rural women; promoted women in non-traditional sectors like science and technology,
sports, art, culture, concretely and significantly towards safety and security, health
and wellness, education, skill development, life skills, respect and dignity of women
etc.

4.6 An award may also be given to a State or Union Territory, which has
appreciably improved Child Sex Ratio (CSR).

4.7 Normally the awards shall not be presented posthumously; excepting in cases
where death occurred subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Ministry
in the manner as stipulated in these guidelines.

5 Nominations

5.1 Nominations for the award shall be invited from:

(a) State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, concerned Central
Ministries/ Departments.
(b) Non-Governmental Organizations, Universities/ Institutions, Private and
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
(c) The Selection Committee may also, suo-moto, recommend an individual for the
award with sufficient justification.
(d) Self-nominations & recommendations for the awards, both, shall be
considered.

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5.2 The Nominations would be submitted to the Ministry of Women and Child
Development with details as per online application form alongwith supporting
documents as mentioned in the application form.

5.3 The entities at para 5.1 recommending the nominations should clearly certify
the work carried out by the nominees for which the award is being recommended.

6. Mode of calling the nominations

6.1 For inviting the applications for the awards, the designated portal shall be
opened from 1st July to 31st October of every calendar year. The Ministry will also write
to all the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, Central Ministries/
Departments for giving wide publicity for the awards and also for sending
nominations through the designated portal. Government may, at its discretion decide
any other start/ cut-off date for consideration of nominations for awards for that
particular year.

6.2 The information will be simultaneously placed on Ministry's website and other
social media platforms as well as any other medium of communication as may be
decided, along with relevant details.

7. Procedure for sending nominations:

7.1. Nominations will be received only through designated website i.e.

www.awards.gov.in. The link of this website will also be available on the official
website of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (www.wcd.nic.in).
Applications received other than online mode will not be entertained.

7.2 Applications received by the due date will be sent to the State/ UT and District
Collector/ District Magistrate, other government/ appropriate agencies/
organizations for verification of the claims and achievements mentioned in the
applications.

8. Screening of Nominations

8.1 A Screening Committee shall be constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development to scrutinize and short list the nominations received for the Awards
considering the achievements of the applying/ recommended individuals.

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8.2 The Screening Committee shall consist of:

(i) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child - Chairperson,

Development ex-officio
(ii) Domain expert in the field of women issues/ - Member
gender expert, Ministry of Women and Child
Development
(iii) Director/ DS level officer, Ministry of Urban - Member
Development, Rural Development, Health,
Panchayati Raj, Home Affairs, NITI Aayog.
(iv) Representative of CII and FICCI Ladies - Member
Organisation (FLO)
(v) Concerned Director/ Deputy Secretary, Ministry - Member Secretary
of Women and Child Development

9. Selection of Awardees by the Selection Committee

9.1 A Selection Committee shall be constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development to select the awardees on the basis of recommendation of the Screening
Committee.

9.2 The Selection Committee shall consist of:

(i) Hon'ble Minister for Women and - Chairperson, ex-officio

Child Development
(ii) Hon'ble Minister of State for Women and - Member, ex-officio
Child Development
(iii) Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child - Member, ex-officio
Development
(iv) Special or Additional Secretary, Ministry - Member, ex-officio
of Women & Child Development
(v) Secretary or his nominee from Ministry - Member, ex-officio
,.
of Rural Development
(vi) Five National level eminent - Co-opted members
Individuals/ Representatives of
Institutions of National Importance/
Representatives of relevant Ministries/
Departments

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 (vii)I Joint Secretary (Women Awards), - , Member-Secretary
Ministry of Women & Child
Development

9.3 The Selection Committee may at its discretion also consider individuals other
than those who have got nominated/ recommended before the last date of receipt of
nominations/ recommendations.

10. Presentation of the Award

10.1 The Award shall be presented at New Delhi at a special ceremony/ function
held on the occasion of the International Women's Day on 8th March every year.

10.2 The Ministry will reimburse travel expenses by economy class by shortest
route, for the awardees to and from Delhi, by Air India or any other airline as
specifically permitted and local travelling allowance on production of bills and air
tickets. Apart from this, boarding and lodging arrangements for the awardees for
three days ( one day prior and one day after the date of Award ceremony) shall be
arranged by the Ministry.

10.3 In special circumstances, the Ministry may also reimburse travel expenses by
economy class by shortest route, for one companion of the awardee, in case the
awardee belongs to any of the following categories:

(i) Awardee is more than 70 years of age (as on date of award ceremony);
(ii) Awardee is Divyangjan or a person with disability, who cannot manage
without companion's support (certificate from designated authority of
State/ Central Government is required to be submitted);
(iii) Awardee belongs to BPL (Below Poverty Line) category;
(iv) Awardee is illiterate or having language barrier, and cannot manage
without a companion.

11 Recall of Awards

If subsequent to the presentation of awards, it is found that false declaration

has been made by the applicant in the application to claim the award or the conduct
of an awardee is found to be unbecoming by way of any anti-national, anti-social,
unethical, immoral, illegal activities including indulging in crime against women,
economic offences etc. or conviction by a court of law, the Ministry reserves the right
to withdraw the awards and in such event the name of the awardee shall be deleted

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from the list of awardees and they would be required to refund the award money to
Consolidated Fund of India in such manner, as may be prescribed.

12 Miscellaneous Provisions Governing the Awards

12.1 The Ministry reserves the right to reject any entry without assigning and/ or
disclosing any reason.

12.2 The decision of the Government with regard to selection of awardees shall be
final and binding and no person including the applicant will have the right to question
the decision of the Government or to challenge the validity of such decision.

Under Secretary to the Government of India

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